“I’m just so happy it’s 2018 and not 2017 anymore,” said Kerber, seeded No. 21 after a disastrous 2017 campaign. “I learnt a lot from the last 24 months. Everybody who knows me knows I never give up, I always come back.”

“I felt a pain on the court, but I didn’t have time to check it,” said Halep after tweaking her ankle during the match. “I feel that nothing is broken, but the pain is big. I have to see the doctors…My ankles are not good. That’s why I tape all the time.”